HCA Ombudsman orders removal of Azharuddin Stand at Uppal Cricket Stadium

Hyderabad: An order has been passed by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) Ombudsman to remove the name of former Indian cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin from the North Pavilion Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, located at Uppal, Hyderabad.

The order was passed by former acting chief justice V Eswraiah who was appointed as the Ethics Officer and Ombudsman (Additional incharge) for the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The case dates back to 2019, when Mohammed Azharuddin was the president of HCA.

The order also ensured that no tickets are printed with the name of the former Indian Captain and Ex HCA President Azharuddin.

What is the case?

The case dates back to 2019, when Azharuddin was the HCA president and he had ordered that the North Pavilion stand should be named after him. However that stand was already named after Senior cricketer V V S Laxman.

The ombudsman ordered to remove his name and not print any tickets that had his name. With the above declaration and directions, the case is disposed of.

While he was the president of HCA, Azharuddin unilaterally decided that the North Pavilion Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium be named after him. Aggrieved by this action, the Lords Cricket Club presented by its treasury Somna Misra filed a petition stating that to name the stand after Azharuddin was illegal, violating the rules and regulations of 2018.

The petitioner said that the action of Mohammed Azharuddin is against Rule 38 of the said Rules which clearly postulates that the member of the Apex Council cannot take a decision in his own favour. The said action is clearly a brazen case of conflict of interest, and it is arbitrary and unfair. The North Stand was already named as "VVS Laxman pavilion" and VVS Laxman had impeccable character and represented India in 134 Test Matches.

The North pavilion was made as “VVS Laxman pavilion" after taking approval from the General Body. Therefore, adding a narne in the Stand would be an abuse of power as the decision of the General Body cannot be altered or modified by Mohammad Azharuddin, Ex-President of HCA unilaterally.

Remove the name of ‘Mohammed Azharuddin Stand" from the North Pavilion Stand of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad.

Zist of the case:

Azharuddin contended that the present complaint is nearly four to five years old and as such is barred by limitation.

The HCA former president also contended that there was no unilateral decision taken and the decision was the decision of the Apex Council in unanimity and as such there is no conflict of interest.

Azharuddin further contended that the North Stand and North Pavilion are different sections and as such the name of the Stand was not changed or modified.

In the subsequent General Body meeting, no dispute was raised and as such the decision is deemed to be ratified by the General Body and is binding on all members and third parties.

Conflict of interest in matters of decision making has to be understood as deriving a benefit out of such decision. When no financial or other benefit is derived, there is no conflict of interest.

During the inauguration of the North Stand VVS Laxman himself was present along with the other Apex Council members and no one aggrieved or raised any objection. The complaint is devoid of merits and is liable to be dismissed.

Undisputed facts

Azharuddin was elected as the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and was in office from September 8, 2019 till February 14, 2023.

A decision was taken in the Apex Council Meeting held on November 25, 2019, which was presided by the Azharuddin, wherein a decision was taken to name the North Stand as "Azharuddin Stand" even though it was already named as "VVS Laxman Pavilion.

The charges of renaming the North pavilion as "Mohmmed Azharuddin Stand" were borne by the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

There is no decision by the General Body either to ratify the decision of the Apex Council presided over by the Azharuddin i.e. Mohammed Azharuddin naming the North Stand as Mohammed Azharuddin Stand or there is any modification or rectification to name the North Stand as Mohammed Azharuddin Stand in Bold Letters over above the name of "WS Laxmal pavilion".

The present complaint was filed on February 28, 2025 i.e., five years after the decision was taken in the Apex Council Meeting held on November 25, 2019.

The name of Mohammed Azharuddin was displayed at the Northern Pavilion of the stadium and the same was inaugurated by VVS Laxman amongst others.

VVS Laxman was not a Member of the Apex Council nor a party to any decision of the General Body and he had no Authority to approve the action of the Azharuddin.

The names of Sri Arshad Ayub and Sri Venkatapathi Raju Former Test Cricketers are not displayed in any part of the stadium as on date.

The Apex Council Meeting held on November 25, 2019, which was filed by the Azharuddin, the following is recorded "The President Mr. Mohnmmad Azharuddin stated that if we go by the book u cannot do anything and we need to be beyond the book and if we want to do something good to the game then we have to correct them.”